WB man pushed into Bangladesh despite proof of Indian citizenship, alleges family, state officials
Kolkata: A 36-year-old man from West Bengal, Mehbub Sheikh, who had been working as a mason in Maharashtra, was allegedly pushed into Bangladesh by the Border Security Force (BSF) in the early hours of Saturday, despite his family and the West Bengal government submitting documents to prove his Indian citizenship.
According to officials of the West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board, Sheikh was detained by the Maharashtra Police in Thane on June 11, after being suspected of being an illegal Bangladeshi migrant. He was picked up while having tea in the Mira Road area and taken to the Kanakia police station.
Upon receiving a distress call from Sheikh, his family immediately contacted the local administration and the migrant welfare board. “We sent all necessary documents including his Aadhaar, voter ID, ration card, and even a family tree certified by the gram panchayat,” said Mujibur Sheikh, Mehbub’s younger brother. “Despite this, he was sent to a BSF camp in Siliguri and later pushed across the border.”
Samirul Islam, chairman of the West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board, said, “The Maharashtra Police did not cooperate, and the BSF deported him without informing the West Bengal authorities.”
Shabbir Ahmed, pradhan of Mahisasthali gram panchayat in Murshidabad district, confirmed the documents were authentic and verified at the local level. “We tried to intervene when we learned he was taken to a BSF camp in Siliguri, but were not given access,” he said.
The family said Mehbub called them on Saturday morning, weeping and stating that the BSF had pushed him into Bangladesh at around 3:30 am. He reportedly found temporary shelter in a Bangladeshi village. He has a wife and three children in India.
Maharashtra Police, however, defended their actions. Meghna Burade, Senior Inspector of Mira Road police station, said, “On orders to act against illegal migrants, we detained several people, including Mehbub. He failed to produce valid proof like a birth certificate. We don’t accept Aadhaar or PAN cards as sole proof of citizenship, as these can be obtained fraudulently.”
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Man killed in flat ceiling plaster crash, wife and son hurt
Thane (PTI): A 45-year-old man was killed, and his wife and son were injured when a portion of plaster from the ceiling collapsed in their flat in a seven-storey building in Thane on Saturday, officials said.
Chief of the Regional Disaster Management Cell, Yasin Tadvi, said the 16-year-old building is not listed in the "dangerous" category.
"The incident occurred in Karumdev Society at about 3 am. The plaster of the hall in a flat on the terrace floor suddenly fell while the occupants were asleep", he said.
Of the four people who were inside the room, two suffered minor injuries and were discharged after primary treatment, Tadvi stated.
The injured persons were identified as Arpita More (42), who suffered minor head injuries, and her son Arush More (16), who sustained injuries to both legs.
Manoj More (45), who sustained chest injuries, died during treatment at a private hospital.
